Education & Training

Premises and Fire Safety for Childcare Settings

Premises requirements and fire safety for childcare providers including EYFS space standards, fire risk assessment, fire drills, evacuation procedures, and daily safety checks.

UK-wide Updated 1 Apr 2026

Guide summary

You must meet space and safety rules for your childcare premises. Check fire safety, carry out risk assessments, and follow evacuation procedures. Keep records of all checks and drills. Get planning permission if you are setting up a new nursery.

Provide 3.5 m² per child under 2 years indoors
Do a fire risk assessment before opening
Hold fire drills every 3-4 months
Check sleeping children every 10 minutes
Keep fire exits clear at all times
Record daily safety checks and risk assessments
Apply for planning permission to change premises use
Use age-appropriate toilet and hygiene facilities
Follow safe sleeping rules for babies
Get pre-application advice from your local council

On this page

UK-wide

Your childcare premises must meet strict safety and space requirements under the EYFS statutory framework. Fire safety is governed separately by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which applies to all non-domestic premises where people are employed or where the public has access.

For childminders operating from home, fire safety requirements apply to the areas used for childminding.

EYFS space requirements

Your premises must provide minimum space per child:

Official guidance

EYFS Premises and Space Requirements

Indoor space per child under 2 years: 3.5 m² (net usable space)
Indoor space per child aged 2 years: 2.5 m² (net usable space)
Indoor space per child aged 3-5 years: 2.3 m² (net usable space)
Outdoor space requirement: Access to outdoor area or daily outdoor activities
Toilet facilities: Age-appropriate, separate from staff where possible
Nappy changing facilities: Required if caring for children under 3
Hygiene facilities: Handwashing facilities accessible to children
Sleeping area: Safe sleep area if children nap
Food preparation area: Separate hygienic area if preparing meals

Fire safety

As the responsible person, you must ensure fire safety in your childcare premises:

Official guidance

Fire Safety for Childcare Premises

Legal basis: Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 — the responsible person (employer, occupier, or owner) must carry out and regularly review a fire risk assessment
Fire risk assessment: Must be completed before opening and reviewed regularly (at least annually, or after any significant change to premises, staffing, or layout)
Fire drills: Conduct fire drills at least once per term (every 3-4 months). Record date, time, number of children, evacuation time, and any issues. Practice at different times of day
Evacuation procedures: Written evacuation plan displayed prominently. Must account for non-mobile children (babies, children with disabilities), sleeping children, and visitors
Sleeping children: If children sleep on premises, staff must check them at least every 10 minutes. Evacuation plan must include procedure for waking and evacuating sleeping children
Fire detection and alarms: Appropriate fire detection system for premises size. Smoke detectors in all rooms used by children. Working fire alarm system tested weekly
Fire exits and escape routes: At least two escape routes from each floor. Routes must be kept clear at all times. Emergency lighting if required. Fire doors must not be propped open
Fire safety log: Maintain a fire safety log recording drills, alarm tests, extinguisher checks, fire door inspections, and any incidents
Childminders: Childminders in domestic premises must have working smoke alarms on every floor, a fire escape plan, and conduct regular practice evacuations with minded children

Risk assessments

Regular risk assessment is a fundamental EYFS requirement for all childcare settings:

Official guidance

Risk Assessment Requirements for Childcare

EYFS requirement: Providers must conduct risk assessments and take all reasonable steps to ensure children are not exposed to risks. Risk assessments must identify aspects of the environment that need to be checked on a regular basis
Daily premises check: Carry out a visual safety check of all areas before children arrive each day. Check for hazards indoors and outdoors, heating, cleaning products, gates, fencing, and equipment
Activity risk assessments: Written risk assessments for activities involving additional hazards (cooking, messy play, water play, woodwork, use of tools)
Outing risk assessments: Written risk assessment for every outing covering transport, route, venue, ratios (higher than usual), emergency procedures, lost child procedure, and parental consent
Sleeping children checks: Check sleeping children at least every 10 minutes. Record check times. Ensure safe sleeping environment (firm mattress, correct temperature, no loose bedding for babies)
Lone working: Risk assess lone working situations. Childminders working alone should have emergency procedures, ICE contacts displayed, and a buddy system with another childminder
Review frequency: Review risk assessments at least annually, after any incident or near-miss, and whenever there is a significant change to activities, premises, or children's needs
Records: Keep written records of all risk assessments, daily check logs, and any actions taken. Ofsted may request these during inspection

Planning permission

If you are setting up a new nursery or converting premises for childcare use, you may need planning permission:

Official guidance

Planning Permission for Childcare Premises

Use Class for day nurseries: Use Class E(f) — day nursery or day centre (not including a residential use). Previously Class D1 before September 2020 Use Class Order changes
Childminders in dwelling houses: Childminders operating from their own home do not normally need planning permission (permitted development). However, if the scale of the business fundamentally changes the character of the dwelling, permission may be required
Change of use: Converting commercial premises (retail, office) to a nursery requires a planning application for change of use to Class E(f). Typical processing time is 8-13 weeks
Noise considerations: Outdoor play noise is a common planning concern. Conditions may restrict outdoor play times, require acoustic fencing, or limit numbers of children outdoors simultaneously
Parking and transport: Planning may require a transport assessment and adequate parking provision for staff and parent drop-off/collection. Highway safety near the entrance is a key consideration
Local authority pre-application advice: Most councils offer pre-application advice (fee typically GBP 50-500). Strongly recommended before submitting a full application to identify potential issues early
Conditions attached: Planning approval may include conditions on opening hours, maximum number of children, outdoor play times, parking provision, and noise mitigation measures
Building regulations: Separate from planning permission. Nursery premises must comply with Building Regulations including fire safety (Part B), ventilation (Part F), accessibility (Part M), and sanitation (Part G)

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EYFS space requirements

Fire safety

Risk assessments

Planning permission

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